Father’s Day: Irish League legend Jackie Hutton on wall of dad tributes following cancer battle

A virtual version of the iconic Prostate Cancer UK ‘Man of Men’ logo will showcase personal, poignant and powerful messages for Father‘s Day, including one from the son of a former Irish League legend.
By Graeme Cousins
Published 17th Jun 2020, 16:11 BST
John Hutton with his late father JackieJohn Hutton with his late father Jackie
John Hutton with his late father Jackie

A virtual version of the iconic Prostate Cancer UK ‘Man of Men’ logo will showcase personal, poignant and powerful messages for Father‘s Day, including one from the son of a former Irish League legend.

The leading men’s health charity has created a public online space for dedications and tributes to dads and father figures as they shine a light on those affected by the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the UK.

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The messages include one from John Hutton, the son of 1979 Irish Cup-winning Cliftonville manager Jackie Hutton, who also won two league titles with Glentoran.

John Hutton, Jackie Pattison and Jackie HuttonJohn Hutton, Jackie Pattison and Jackie Hutton
John Hutton, Jackie Pattison and Jackie Hutton

Jackie, who grew up in Scotland as a Rangers fan, moved from St Mirren to Glentoran in 1967, and settled in Belfast with his wife Elaine.

He died of prostate cancer in 2015 aged 71, and son John has paid tribute to his father not only by leaving a message on the Dedication to Dad wall, but by walking with Soccer Saturday host Jeff Stelling on two of his marathon March for Men events in 2019.

In 2011, aged 67, Jackie climbed Mount Kilimanjaro as part of a fundraising effort for his local church and Help for Heroes. After returning from his trek, Jackie visited his GP after experiencing severe back, groin and hip pain.

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His previous PSA tests had come back negative, but this time he was told he had advanced prostate cancer.

Walter Mills, Jeff Stelling, Matthew Hutton and John Hutton on Jeff Stelling's March for MenWalter Mills, Jeff Stelling, Matthew Hutton and John Hutton on Jeff Stelling's March for Men
Walter Mills, Jeff Stelling, Matthew Hutton and John Hutton on Jeff Stelling's March for Men

John, 52, said: “As was his way, dad volunteered to take part in any clinical trials offered to him, regardless of side effects or risk.

“We’ll never know if these treatments gave us any extra time with dad, and despite the side effects he always pushed himself to do whatever he could each and every day, often dumbfounding the specialists on how active he still was.”

John’s message on the Dedication to Dad wall reads: “Loving, caring, honest, kind, loyal, reliable, supportive, hard-working, just one in a million! The best Dad anyone could ever have had. Happy Father’s Day! Love you forever Dad.”

To make a dedication go to prostatecanceruk.org/father

Related topics:Prostate Cancer UKJeff StellingGlentoran